Resilient tire



Apr. 3, 1923;

RESILIENT TIRE Filed May l2, 1921 Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

narran s'mrss Y HENRY A. CARSON, .OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

`IELESILIIEZLTT TIRE.

Application led May 12,

To allee/1,001?.y t may concer/n.:

Be `it known ythat I, HENRY A. CAnsoN, a `citizen of the United States,residing at St.' Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements vinResilient Tires, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein.

to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in f resilient tires, for'use onvehicle wheels, and `the present application is a` substitute for myapplication Serial No. 184,520, which became abandoned* May 12, 1921.The objects of the invention are, to provide a simple, substantial anddurable tire of this class, whichcan readily be attached to the ordinarywheel rims', now generally in use, and in which the shock to the tire,which 4arises .from contact with an obstacle, shall 'be absorbed,`practically at the point of con- !ta'ct, bythe minimum number of parts.

Further objects are, to so construct a resilient tire, that spiralsprings, only, shall be used, thereby avoiding the crystallization andbreaking ofV springs, which is eX- perienced in using springs of otherforms. Still further objects are, to construct the tire of separableunits, in such manner, that the units can readily be replaced at smallcost, and to provide means whereby the lateral movement of the rim islimited.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated `in the accompanyingdrawings,

in which:

Figurel isv a fragmentary side viewv of `the tire, certain portionsbeing broken away. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionon the line X X,-seenin Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line Y Y, seen vin Fig.

1, looking toward the left, showing the hinging means in detail. Fig. 4is a view' in detail of the outer surface of two of the links,

the elastic tread blocks being removed. Fig.

5 is a View in detail, of the outer surface of the rim, with the guidesleeves and spring connections secured thereon. Fig. 6 is a side view ofa portion of one of the various other forms in which the tire may bemade, certain parts beingbroken away. Fig. 7 is a transverse section, onthe line 'Z Z, looking toward the right.

Fig. .8 .is la view ofthe outer surface vin.

4on the longitudinal and in one direction.

1921. lseran No. 469,010.

detail, Iof two of the links, ,seen in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a view indetail, of the inner surface of a plurality of the links seen in Fig. 6

Referring to Figs. l and 2, the 4rim l is secured on the :ordinarykfelly l', by the bolts and nuts 1".

Said boltsl plates ,2 mounted n 6o are passedthrough angle uponthe rim1,'the base .portions 3dof the guide sleeves 3, the rim 1 .and the felly1, nuts being threaded on said bolts 1, `'for .securing said 'parts' to-.bether. The ends of said angle plates are `bent :outward land an eye 2is formed `on onek end ofeach angle plate 2. n

lhe outer rim comprises a plurality -of vpairs of links 4 and 4a, asseen in'F ig. 4. Anoutwardly fextendingfiange 4 is formed ytransverseledges of eachone of said links 4-and 4a, for 'hlding anelastic tread block 5 thereon,y as seen in Figs.V 1 and 2. A lheadedstud4 is formed. .on the .central portion of the outer surface ofv .each.one of said links 4 and 143, `for assisting in holding said treadblocks 5 in place, which latterare `formed and vulcanized inthef.posi'tlon-showm An veye/6 is formed Von .one ofthe `inner edgesofeach one of said linksk 4 and 4a; the eye on one link being formed onone edge thereof, land theeye on the adjacent links on the oppositeedges. This ,alternation of the position of-said eyes 6, extends aroundthe entire chain'of links; hence said 'links are formed in pairs. ASpring boss 7 is formed'onthe inner-'surface ofone yend portionofeach'one of'said 'links 4 and 4a." A guide stud '8 is formed on thecenterof each one of said fbosses '7 and eX-y ytends inwardtherefrom;The extended'end portions of said'studs 8 are loosely guided in-theirrespective guide sleeves 3, for limiting lateral and`longitudinal'-moven'nent of 95 said sleeves -3 and their connectedyparts, inf.. .relation` to..their respective links 4 and 4B.

` The-outer'end of an,v inclined spring J9 is hooked into the yeyeyandthe inner end of said spring 9 is similarlyconnectedwith the eye 2', foryieldably holding the therewith connected rim 1 against lateral movementThe adjacentlink 4*L 'is similarly provided with the oppositelyAinclined 'spring' '.9, for performing the Asame 105 function in theopposite direction.

formed on its longitudinal edges.

The links 4 and 4a are hinge connected by the hinge bolt 10, whichpasses through apertures formed through said links 4 and 4a.

A spiral spring 11 encircles the sleeve 3 and the stud 8.

The inner end ofl said spring 11 presses against the base portion 3 ofsaid sleeve, and the outer endv of said spring presses against thespring boss 7 for yieldably holding the adjacent ends of said links 4and 4a in their outward position.

Each one of said links 4 and 4LL is similarly provided with a spring 11,thereby normally pressing all of said links outward and yieldablyholding them at an equal distance from the rim 1.

In operation of the tire, with the parts in the position seen in Fig. 1,when the tread block 5 of ythe link 4 or the link 4, or both of saidtread blocks are moved into contact with an obstacle, such as a rock orother irregularity in the surface of the road,

said tread blocks 5 and their respectivelyy connected links and thetherewith connected parts are thereby depressed toward the rim 1, at thepoint of contact, overcoming the spring 11.

-While this takes place, said' depressed links 4 and 4, yby their hingeconnections 10 with their adjacent links 4 and 4a, move the latteroutward, thereby compensating for the inward movement ofsaid depressedlinks. After the latter have moved from said obstacle, their spring 11forces them outward, thereby moving all` of the links into their normalposition.

Should the vehicle (not shown,) and the therewith connected felly 1 andthe rim 1, be moved laterally in either direction, the inclined springs9 and 9', yieldably resist said movement, vuntil the same is stopped byContact of the inner end portion of the stud 8 with the sleeve 3. Shouldthe felly 1 and the therewith connected rim 1, carrying the sleeve 3,move longitudinal with greater speed than the described links 4 and 4andthe therewith connected parts, or vice versa, said movement islimited and ultimately stopped in the same manner.

While I have shown they links 4 and 4, of such from as is adapted tohold the tread blocks 5 thereon, and to be used as a portion of a singletire, it is evident that said links 4 and 4a could be so modified inform, as to adapt them to fhold an endless elastic tread and to be usedin forming a double tire, without departing from the spirit of mydinvention; which I reserve the right tol o'.

f One of such other forms of links is shownk in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive,in which the link 12 has the outwardly extending anges 12 The transverseedges 1 2 of said link .12 are kend of said bolt 14 is countersunk inthe link 12, for preventing said bolt from being moved into contact withobjects, such as rocks and other irregularities in the surface of theroad.

The headed stud 17 (see Figs. 6 and 8,) is formed on the central portionof the outer surface of the link 12, for assisting in holding theendless elastic tread 18 on said link.

Said tread 18 is formed and vulcanized on said outer surface, betweenthe flanges 12', for holding said tread in place.

A piece of fabric 19 (or the like,) is placed over the space between thetransverse edges of 'the link 12 and the longitudinally adjacent links,for preventing entry into said space, of the material of said endlesstread 1S, when the same is formed and vulcanized thereover.

The links 12 and 16 form two endless chains connected together by thebolts 14 which extend through the lugs 13 and 13 of the links 12 andholes 15 in projections 15 on the links 12 and 16, Figs. 7 and 9. Thetwo endless chains extend around their respective rims 2O and 21, andsince their undescribed parts are substantially the same as the parts ofthe previously described link 4, and operate in the same manner, theyare similarly designated, and further description is deemed unnecessary.

From the foregoing it will be seen and understood that either a chain ofthe links 12er of the links 16, could be used in forming a single tire.having the endless elastic tread 18 formed thereon, and that a pluralityof the links 4 and 4a could be made with the holding lugs 15 formedthereon, thereby adapting them to be used in forming a i double tire,having elastic tread blocks secured thereon; which l reserve the rightto do.

Having fully described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a resilient tire; a plurality of links hinged together forming anannular endless chain around the rim 'of a vehicle wheel with a space ofpredetermined depth between said links and rim; springs in said spacefor pressing said links outward from said rim; guiding and retainingmeans connected with said links and rim whereby said springs are guidedand retained in place and whereby said links are loosely guided throughtheir inward and outward movement;1and yieldable resisting meansoonnected with said links and rim for yieldably resisting lateralmovement of said rim in relation to said links.

2. A resilient tire comprising a plurality of links hinged togetherforming an annular endless chain around the rim of a` vehicle wheel witha space between said rim and links; a. spring boss formed on each one ofsaid links; a like plurality of sleeves secured on said rim; a guidestud formed with each one of said bosses the inner end portions of saidstuds being loosely guided in their respective sleeves; a spiral springmounted on each one of said studs and its respective sleeve, the innerend of said spring resting upon the base portion of said sleeve and itsouter end pressing against said spring boss; inclined springs foryieldably resisting lateral movement of said links; connecting means onsaid links whereby the outer ends of said springs are connected withsaid links; and rim connecting means whereby the inner ends of saidinclined springs are connected with said rim.

3. In a resilient tire; a plurality of links hinged together forming apair of annular v endless chains each one of which encircles the rim ofa vehicle wheel with a space between each one of said rims and itsrespective chain of links; resilient means interposed between saidendless chains and the rims; a .like plurality of inclined spiralsprings alternately inclined in opposite directions for yieldablyholding said links against lateral movement; holding means whereby thelinks of said two chains are held against movement from each other; andan elastic tread on the outer surface of each one of said chains oflinks In testimony whereof I atlix my signature. 40

HENRY A. CARSON.

